| Election Name: | 1987 California's 5th congressional district special election |
| Country: | California |
| Type: | by-election |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1986 United States House of Representatives elections#California |
| Previous Year: | 1986 |
| Election Date: | April 7, 1987 (primary) June 2, 1987 (runoff) |
| Next Election: | 1988 United States House of Representatives elections#California |
| Next Year: | 1988 |
| Candidate1: | Nancy Pelosi |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 46,428 |
| Percentage1: | 63.36% |
| Candidate2: | Harriet Ross |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 22,478 |
| Percentage2: | 30.68% |
| U.S. Representative | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
A special election to determine the member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 5th congressional district was held on April 7, 1987, with a runoff held two months later on June 2.
Incumbent Representative Sala Burton, who herself was elected during a special election following the previous incumbent's death, died on February 1, 1987, from colon cancer.[1] Her death triggered a special election, leading to multiple people running to finish her term. No candidate received a 50% election in the general, leading to a run-off which former California Democratic Party chair Nancy Pelosi won.[2]
Fourteen candidates ran for the special election.
The special election primaries were held on April 7, 1987. Every candidate ran in a nonpartisan blanket primary. If a candidate won 50% of the vote, they would automatically fill in the vacant seat. If no candidate won 50% of the vote, a runoff would be triggered with the top candidates in each party advancing to the runoff.
The runoff election took place on June 2, 1987, with Nancy Pelosi gaining the majority of the vote, winning her the special election for Burton's seat.[2]